Mormon.org and Me

So I finally got around to creating my "I'm a Mormon" profile on mormon.org. This is where I share my thoughts and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Click here to view...

Enjoy!

NYC by iPhone

Here's my first attempt to blog via the iPhone and I have no idea what my post will look like once I'm done with it...

The pictures are all in random order but here are the highlights:

1. Making cupcakes with the kids on Veteran's Day. Josh's idea "Saluting 11-11-11"

2. Playing hide-and-seek with the kids for almost an hour. The best spot: squatting on the kitchen counter behind the refrigerator. I must have been there for almost 15 mins!

3. Running 6 miles in Eastchester. Loved the fall foliage!

4. Sister's date with Kath...lunch, shopping, and Footloose. Typical sisters outing...

5. Spending time with my good friend, Ian. We met at Rockefeller Square, ate dinner and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.

6. Spending time with the Newmans. Having a good talk with Mark, many talks with Kathryn, reading books to Thomas, and having our umpteenth dance party with all of the kiddos.

I am so blessed with amazing family. Thanks for the memories! Now back to reality...

Random Realizations

I've had so many thoughts floating around in my mind recently but have been so busy with life that I haven't had a chance to write them down. So, in no particular order, here are some of my thoughts/realizations.

1. Professionally, I have learned a great deal about parenting as a teacher. I don't want to come off like I'm an expert because I definitely am not...especially since I have absolutely no experience. However, one lesson that I am taking away from teaching is to not be an "enabler." I hear this from the Deans and Administrators at school. There are some students' parents that would let their kid get away with murder if it was legal. Ultimately they enable, or allow, their child to be irresponsible and disrespectful. They claim they are involved in their child's life and they say they're on the teacher's side but in reality they hear enough whining from their kid that they hold their child to no standards or expectations. It's ridiculous. Especially when everything now becomes "my fault" as the teacher. I know parenting will be very challenging, but I want to teach my children how to work, to be responsible, to be kind and honest individuals.

2. Spiritually, I have learned that my spiritual gifts are more Moses-like than Aaron-like. I am not much of an orator when it comes to teaching or explaining doctrines of the Gospel. I want to be more that way and I am trying my best to understand the scriptures better. I do have a lot of faith though, which I believe was Moses's strength. Though I have parted no Red Sea or led the children of Israel in the wilderness, I have definitely seen the fruits of my faith recently. I trust that the Lord knows me and knows what experiences I need to be more like Him. I trust that His plan is perfect. And I am thriving on that faith. Life is still hard and it will always be hard, but if I continue in the faith, everything will fall in its proper place. That I know.

3. Socially, I have learned that I am super vulnerable. People affect me. I love deeply and care so deeply that when my expectations aren't fulfilled, I get easily disappointed. I am trying to work on this and to give people a benefit of a doubt. Although my vulnerability allows for many tears at times, it also allows me to love, which I think is one of my greatest gifts. It also helps me to rely on the Lord more fully and trust in Him. And if you think about it, Christ was vulnerable to the fullest; feeling and experiencing all of the temptations, trials, sins, and sorrows of billions and billions of people. It makes me realize that I need to rely on Him and turn my problems over to Him when I am feeling a certain way. I am so grateful for the Savior and His atonement in my life. If some vulnerability allows me to walk a few more steps in the Savior's shoes, then so be it.

Anyway, I just bore my soul to all of you. I hope you enjoyed. Or laughed. Or cried.

ps. And yes, I am listening to Christmas music right now. I am loving it!

For good times sake...

I met up with my old roommates after Stake Conference this Sunday (missed you MDG) and we enjoyed catching up, laughing at memories of 3078, teasing KA's "spooky" Halloween dinner, and making fun of Clint, as always.


It reminded me how good life is out here; regardless of whatever living situation I am in. I am blessed to be surrounded by so many good people and friends who edify, strengthen, and influence me for the better.

Though being married now would be the "preferred" stage of life, I have felt incredibly compensated with the blessing of good women and good men in my singles' ward and in the work environment. It seems as if the Lord has another mission for me as I wait upon His timetable. And this mission ain't a bad one...

I am just going to brag for a sec.

30 Pounds later...

And I go from this (February of this year)

To this (October of this year)

Which results in the giving away of these...


Go me!

God is Good. God is Great.

Lately, I have been struck by several key attributes of God.

1. That God loves me.
2. That God knows me.
3. That God is truly, truly good and He desires to bless me.

As a result of feeling these characteristics in abundance, I have had a heightened feeling of gratitude towards the Lord. Seriously, just thinking about it makes me cry.

Thinking about all of this reminds me of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon. In Mosiah 4:11-12 he states:

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have ^atasted of his love, and have received a ^bremission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own ^cnothingness, and his ^dgoodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of ^ehumility, ^fcalling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing ^gsteadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the ^alove of God, and always ^bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the ^cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

Thinking about God's goodness has caused me, literally, to call on the Lord. It has also caused me to realize that in the grand scheme of things, I am nothing and He makes everything happen. It has caused me to feel of His love with more of a surety. And, as a result, it has made me yearn to be more faithful to Him.

I know that the Lord truly is good. I haven't always felt this way. I have often questioned his wisdom as--in my natural eyes--he has seemed to withheld certain blessings from my life. Now, through a certain string of events, I have seen God's wisdom and His hand in my life. There are so many more unknowns to be faced. However, I know that my experiences as of late has caused me to remember his goodness.

I feel like Alma...

"I remember ^awhat the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

God is merciful. God is good, people of the blogging world. He loves us. He wants us to be happy. He has a plan for us. He answers prayers. I hope we can remember that. I hope I can remember that. This is my testimony to you on a beautiful Sunday morning.

Happy Sabbath!

And I don't even have time to post a pin to pinterest.

Let alone update my blog...

People.

It's October 8 (happy birthday to my dear sis, Chrissie), and I am already drowning in this teaching profession of mine. It feels like ALL I do is teach, plan, grade, email, work with students, and the list goes on...

Something about this year of teaching has made life harder. I teach 2 "preps" which means I teach 2 different subjects. That takes up more time. But I think the difference comes with knowing more about what good teaching is. My 1st year of teaching consisted of me just throwing assignments at kids; just wanting to have something planned so that they stay occupied for 85 minutes. Now, I realize that giving students certain types of work can sometimes be busy work. I am trying to be effective; teaching students skills as well as content that they can transfer to other subjects and to future classes.

So here I sit on a Saturday. Thinking I should lesson plan. Or grade. Or answer emails. I have no desire whatsoever...

Couple the teaching craziness to life craziness. Staying on top of my calling, still trying to be an involved family member and a good friend. Exercising and eating well takes time too. Also, keeping the social life progressing has been taking lots of time lately :)

All I want to do is read a good book, not sit in crazy lines to get my oil changed, explore DC in the fall, take a road trip, and freakin' post a pin to pinterest (check it out if you haven't, pinterest.com)

I know many of you feel the same way. And I know balance is key. But balance has been wobbly. And I fear falling flat on my face.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. I think I can face reality now.